Bincote Road is already notorious for drivers mounting pavements at busy times, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

Bincote Road, where new bus stops are planned

Neighbours living in a suburban Enfield street plagued by road rage and dangerous driving fear plans for more bus stops will cause even more problems.

Bincote Road in World’s End made headlines two years ago when cars were filmed driving along pavements and grass verges to dodge traffic jams as children walked home from nearby schools.

Residents say it was just one shocking incident among a series of ongoing issues, including “face-offs between buses and car drivers, verbal and physical threats of violence, [and] antisocial behaviour”.

In 2021, members of Bincote Road Residents’ Association warned the decision by Transport for London (TfL) to route the new 456 bus service along the street would worsen the problems. While they now accept the route is here to stay, they claim new plans for bus stops in the road – which Enfield Council says are designed to improve accessibility – will add to the traffic chaos.

So far, more than 300 people have signed an online petition calling for the bus stop plans to be dropped.

Sibel Djafer said her drive was already “blocked all the time” and suggested the extra bus stops would make matters worse.

Since dangerous driving on the street made news in 2021, the council has introduced parking restrictions in Bincote Road at school pick-up and drop-off times, but residents say these are ineffective because they are not properly enforced. They fear the council will eventually address the ongoing issues by widening the road.

Residents’ association chair Mary Jackson said there had been several accidents, including vehicles being damaged and a young girl suffering a broken leg. She added that ambulances often cannot get down the road because of the traffic.

The residents have reported numerous incidents of road rage, including confrontations in the street and other antisocial behaviour.

Bincote Road is heavily used by children attending three nearby schools – Merryhills Primary School, Grange Park Primary School and Highlands Secondary School – and residents fear for their safety.

Sibel said: “They are looking to put bus stops on a corner where people have got run over.”

Pointing out that there are existing bus stops a short distance away in Enfield Road and outside Highlands School in World’s End Lane, the residents claim the extra stops are not needed.

Members of the residents’ association have held meetings with TfL and the council but say information they requested has not been provided.

Ibrahim said: “Quite a few residents have written to TfL and Enfield Council. TfL are blaming Enfield Council, and Enfield Council are blaming TfL in terms of passing the buck.”

A council spokesperson said sections of the 456 route, including Bincote Road, currently operate on a ‘hail and ride’ basis requiring the driver to stop on demand where they can but “in many cases this makes it impossible for a bus to deploy its ramps to let wheelchair users and others with impaired mobility to board and alight”.

The spokesperson added: “Both the council and TfL are therefore keen to provide fixed bus stops along the length of the route to ensure the service is fully accessible for everyone.

“A pair of bus stops have been proposed on Bincote Road to serve the local area that have generated concerns from some residents. The council is currently considering these concerns before deciding on the next steps.”

The spokesperson claimed the parking restrictions had “improved the situation” and would “continue to be enforced”.

According to TfL, there is a gap of over 700m between bus stops in World’s End Lane and Enfield Road. The transport body says 96% of Londoners live within 400m of a bus stop, and the proposed changes would ensure more Enfield residents have easy access to the network.

Geoff Hobbs, TfL’s director of public transport planning, said: “Providing good access to the buses for local residents and commuters throughout the capital is a top priority, helping them get to work, school, hospitals, town centres and stations.

“We have been supporting Enfield Council following its decision to install two bus stops on Bincote Road. The lack of bus stops meant that households on Bincote Road and Links Side have limited access to the bus network, and the improved access will make it easier for people in the area to travel sustainably. We’ll continue to work with Enfield Council to ensure the changes work for everyone in the area.”

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